GREG SIGNS FOR CITY
CARDIFF City have confirmed the arrival of Greg Cunningham as their second signing of the summer.
The Republic of Ireland left-back joins Josh Murphy in committing to the Bluebirds as Neil Warnock starts to up the transfer ante ahead of the 2018/19 Premier League season.
It is the second completed Cardiff deal in two days following a quiet start to the transfer window, with Cunningham joining from Preston North End for a fee starting at £3.5million, plus add-ons taking it to the £4million mark.
The deal is subject to international clearance but Cunningham has signed a three year contract. More deals are expected to follow with the Premier League fixtures released today.
Warnock has long been an admirer of the 27-yearold.
The Cardiff boss said: “It’s fair to say that I’ve been an admirer of Greg for a number of years and that he’s consistently been one of the best left-sided defenders for club and country.
“We’re delighted to have his experience and knowledge.”
SO Cardiff City have landed Preston left-back Greg Cunningham, a player Neil Warnock has been chasing for almost a year.
Where on earth does that leave Joe Bennett in the Premier League, you may well ask?
Well, two things to say here. One is that when Fulham were after Bennett back in August, Warnock appeared to be reasonably relaxed about the move and had lined up Cunningham as his replacement.
Bennett chose to stay, for less money, and has gone from strength to strength under Warnock as one of the unsung kingpins of Cardiff’s promotion campaign.
Fulham are said to be back in for him... but this time, as things stand, the Bluebirds have no intention of selling. None whatsoever.
So who gets the No.3 jersey next season? Which of the two plays and which has to be content with a substitute’s spot?
As the man in possession of the shirt, Bennett will probably keep the No.3.
But Warnock is planning a different formation for certain matches in the Premier League, which would see Bennett and Cunningham each start.
Cunningham could actually play on the left-hand side of a three-man central defence, with Bennett outside him as left wingback and Callum Paterson performing that role down the right.
Warnock is not short of options at centre-half, with Sean Morrison, Sol Bamba and Bruno Manga vying for the positions.
But he may choose to bolster numbers at the back to cope with the threat of goal-getters like Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku, plus the menace coming out wide from world-class figures such as Eden Hazard, Mo Salah and Alexis Sanchez.
It’s a whole new ball game up in the top flight and the Cardiff boss is ready to adapt.
Gareth Southgate has been revolutionary for England’s World Cup campaign by moving Kyle Walker to a more central position. That offers greater speed and mobility in the middle, but also gives England a centre-back who is comfortable defending in the wider channels.
Warnock is considering Cunningham, like Walker a full-back throughout his career, for a similar role.
With Bennett at wing-back, that would give the Bluebirds real strength down the left as Warnock himself admitted.
“Cunningham, he’s steady, aggressive and can play in a few positions which we’ll need in the Premier League,” he said. “He can supplement that down the lefthand side.
“We’ve only got Joe naturally left-footed and I think they can work well together.”
Bennett has the athleticism, energy and speed to make a success of the wing-back role, while Paterson offers similar attributes down the right.
Warnock turned him into a No 10 last season, but knows he will need more creativity from that pivotal position in the Premier League.
Paterson, remember, was initially signed as a right-back from Scottish football.
So if it is to be five at the back, what happens with the rest of the starting XI?
Well, further forward Warnock is enthused by the £10m capture of Josh Murphy from Norwich.
Technically gifted and really quick, he will complement Junior Hoilett and give the Bluebirds a two-pronged threat just behind Kenneth Zohore.
Like Hoilett, Murphy has the skill-set and range of passing to play left, right or down the middle.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was one of the success stories of the promotion-winning campaign, but his raw pace and power may
not be quite so successful against better defenders. The guile Murphy offers will, hence the Bluebirds spending such a vast sum of money.
It is the Premier League going rate for a player of his ability.
We understand Fulham also wanted Murphy, but Cardiff got their man.
He has the quality to be a real star turn with the Bluebirds, far greater value for money than the absurd sums spent last time on Andreas Cornelius and Steven Caulker.
Warnock is also chasing a striker, but Zohore is likely to remain number one.
Much will then hinge upon the midfield targets Warnock has targeted, whose identities are being kept a closely guarded secret.
Midfield is the position in most need of strengthening and Warnock wants a playmaker who can come into the starting XI as a kingpin and boss matches from the off.
If Cardiff play five at the back, that would leave one position for Aron Gunnarsson and Joe Ralls to contest.
Take your pick out of those two. Each have strengths, each have weaknesses.
If Warnock opts for a flat backfour – and he will probably mix and match during the season – then Gunnarsson, Ralls and the new midfield signing will play together as a three.
Much will hinge upon just who comes in.
But we can be sure of one thing... old school manager or not, Warnock won’t be averse to some modern-day left-field thinking.
He did it when raising eyebrows in pushing Paterson to 10... he may well do it again by playing Cunningham as a left-sided centre-back.
Bennett still has a massive role to play with Cardiff City, it appears.